Abhijñā


Abhijñā is a Buddhist term generally translated as "direct knowledge", "higher knowledge" or "supernormal knowledge." In Buddhism, such special knowledge is obtained through virtuous living and meditation. The attainment of the four jhanas, or meditative absorptions, is considered a prerequisite for their attainment. In terms of specifically enumerated knowledges, these include mundane extra-sensory abilities as well as the supramundane, meaning the extinction of all mental intoxicants.

Pali literature

In Pali literature, abhiññā refers to both the direct apprehension of dhamma as well as to specialized super-normal capabilities.

Direct knowing of ''dhamma''

In SN 45.159, the Buddha describes "direct knowledge" as a corollary to the pursuit of the Noble Eightfold Path:
Such direct knowledge, according to the Buddha, is obscured by clinging to the five aggregates, desire and passion :

Enumerations of special knowledges

In the Pali Canon, the higher knowledges are often enumerated in a group of six or of three types of knowledge.
The six types of higher knowledges are:
  1. "Higher powers", such as walking on water and through walls;
  2. "Divine ear", that is, clairaudience;
  3. "Mind-penetrating knowledge", that is, telepathy;
  4. "Remember one's former abodes", causal memory, that is, recalling one's own past lives;
  5. "Divine eye", that is, knowing others' karmic destinations; and,
  6. "Extinction of mental intoxicants", upon which arahantship follows.
The attainment of these six higher powers is mentioned in a number of discourses, most famously the "Fruits of Contemplative Life Discourse". The attainment of the four jhanas is considered to be a prerequisite for the attainment of the higher powers. The sixth type is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, which is the end of all suffering and destruction of all ignorance. According to the Buddha, indulgence in the abhiññās should be avoided, as they can distract from the ultimate goal of Enlightenment.
Similarly, the three knowledges or wisdoms are:
  1. "Remember one's former abodes" ;
  2. "Divine eye" ; and,
  3. "Extinction of mental intoxicants".
The three knowledges are mentioned in numerous discourses including the Maha-Saccaka Sutta in which the Buddha describes obtaining each of these three knowledges on the first, second and third watches respectively of the night of his enlightenment. These forms of knowledge typically are listed as arising after the attainment of the fourth jhana.
While such powers are considered to be indicative of spiritual progress, Buddhism cautions against their indulgence or exhibition since such could divert one from the true path of obtaining suffering's release.

Parallels in other cultures

The first five types of Abhijna, are similar to the siddhis of yoga in Hinduism, mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana and by Patanjali:
  • Knowing the past, present and future;
  • Tolerance of heat, cold and other dualities;
  • Knowing the minds of others;
  • Checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on;
  • Remaining unconquered by others.